U.S. Readies New Phase of Venezuela Operations as Covert Actions Likely

U.S. officials say Washington is preparing a new phase of operations related to Venezuela that could begin within days, signaling an escalation of pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

Officials declined to specify the timing or full scope of the planned measures, and it was not clear whether the U.S. president had made a final decision. Several sources said covert activities would likely be the opening element of the new phase; all requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the actions.

'President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,' an administration official said.

The administration has framed some options around allegations that Maduro and affiliated elements play a role in trafficking illegal drugs bound for the United States, a charge Maduro denies. Among the measures under consideration, two U.S. officials said, is an effort to remove Maduro from power.

U.S. military forces have been building up in the Caribbean for months. The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and its strike group arrived in the region on November 16, joining multiple warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft. The White House has also authorized covert CIA activity inside Venezuela, officials said.

Authorities plan to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the United States. U.S. officials say that designation expands the range of options available to Washington; defenders of the designation say it enables new financial and operational measures, while critics warn it raises the stakes for diplomatic and military escalation.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to airlines about a potentially hazardous situation over Venezuela, and several international carriers canceled flights following the advisory. Since September, U.S. forces have carried out at least 21 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, actions that U.S. officials describe as counter-narcotics operations and that human rights groups have condemned as unlawful extrajudicial killings; at least 83 people are reported to have died in those strikes.

Washington in August doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million.

Venezuela's military is a fraction of U.S. capacity and has been weakened by poor training, low pay and aging equipment. Facing that imbalance, Maduro's government has discussed contingency plans for what it calls a campaign of 'prolonged resistance' in the event of an invasion, including guerrilla-style tactics by small units operating from more than 280 locations to carry out sabotage and other irregular operations.

The situation remains fluid. U.S. officials acknowledged that some communications between Caracas and Washington have taken place, but they said it was unclear whether diplomacy could alter the timing or scale of the planned measures.

Reporting: Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali. Additional reporting: Andrea Shalal.